Day 2 of Jamal Smith Murder Trial: Judge Orders Boughton Supporters Not to Wear Yellow
In day two of the trial of Jamal Smith, a medical examiner walked through the autopsy of Jay Boughton, the 56-year-old Crystal man who was shot and killed on Highway 169. He also noted there is no way for him as medical examiner to tell where in the car the shooter was located. Judge Nicole Engisch also ordered Boughton supporters not to wear yellow, saying it’s distracting and sends emotional messages to the jury.
Tuesday was day two of the Jamal Smith murder trial.
The 34-year-old Chicago man is accused of killing popular youth baseball Jay Boughton on Highway 169 in Plymouth last summer in what prosecutors are calling a road rage incident.
Boughton’s 16-year-old son was with him in the car at the time of the shooting.
Opening statements began Tuesday with the 11th witness taking the stand to testify.
Hennepin County Assistant Medical Examiner Lorren Jackson walked the courtroom through Jay Boughton’s autopsy photos to describe the details of the impact from that fatal shot on the freeway last summer.
Jackson said Boughton died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head and neck. He also noted there is no way for him as medical examiner to tell where in the car the shooter was located. The defense is insisting a passenger in the vehicle fired the shot that killed Boughton.
Prior to the medical examiner taking the stand, judge Nicole Engisch ordered supporters not to wear yellow – saying it is distracting and sends emotional messages to the jury.
Family and friends of Boughton wore yellow as a symbol of “courage, strength and staying in the light.”
That order will go in effect Wednesday. Dozens of Boughton supporters showed up Tuesday dressed in yellow.
If the prosecution can’t prove Smith is the shooter, he can still be convicted if the jury believes he aided the shooter.
Minneapolis police officer Benjamin Chaput testified Tuesday about the SUV allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of Boughton.
Chaput told jurors the vehicle was reported stolen from Chicago then found abandoned in an impound lot in north Minneapolis. He said he was unable to search the SUV because it was locked.
Schmidt Towing accounting manager Jennifer Modlin also testified.
Modlin told jurors they were hired by a car rental company to recover the vehicle from the impound lot in Minneapolis and return it to Chicago. She explained to jurors the moment her driver told her he recognized the vehicle from news stories.
Modlin and the driver compared side-by-side photos before calling Plymouth Police.
See also: Former Coach Jay Boughton Honored at Robbinsdale-Crystal Little League Opening Day
